<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
"Nuh" is the name of this Surah as well as the title of its subject
matter, for in it, from beginning to the end, the story of the Prophet
Noah has been related.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
This also is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah, but
the internal evidence of its subject matter shows that it was sent
down in the period when opposition to the Holy Prophet's message of
Islam by the disbelievers of Makkah had grown very strong and active.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject</h2>
<p>
In this surah the story of the Prophet Noah has not been related only
for the sake of story telling, but its object is to warn the
disbelievers of Makkah, so as to say:"You, O people of Makkah, are
adopting towards Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings)
the same attitude as the people of the Prophet Noah had adopted
towards him; if you do not change this attitude, you too would meet
with the same end." This had not been said in so many words anywhere
in the Surah, but in the background of the conditions under which this
story was narrated to the people of Makkah, this subject itself became
obvious. 
</p>
<p>
Vv. 2-4 briefly explain how he began his mission and what he
preached. 
</p>
<p>
Then after suffering hardships and troubles in the way of
preaching his mission for ages the report that he made to his Lord has
been given in vv. 5-20. In it he states how he had been trying to
bring his people to the right path and how his people had stubbornly
opposed him. 
</p>
<p>
After this, the Prophet Noah's final submission has been
recorded in vv. 21-24, in which he prays to his Lord, saying: "These
people have rejected my invitation: they are blindly following their
chiefs, who have devised a tremendous plot of deceit and cunning. Time
now has come when these people should be deprived of every grace to
accept guidance." This was not an expression of impatience by the
Prophet Noah, but when after having preached his message under
extremely trying circumstances for centuries be became utterly
disappointed with his people, he formed the opinion that no chance
whatever was left of their coming to the right path. His this opinion
fully conformed to Allah's own decision. Thus, in the next verse (25),
it has been said: "The torment of Allah descended on those people
because of their misdeeds." 
</p>
<p>
In the concluding verse, the Prophet
Noah's supplication that he made to his Lord, right at the time the
torment descended, has been recorded. In it he prays for his own and
for all the believers' forgiveness, and makes a submission to Allah to
the effect: "Do not leave any of the disbelievers alive on the earth,
for they have become utterly devoid of every good: they will not beget
any but disbelieving and wicked descendents." 
</p>
<p>
While studying this Surah
one should keep in view the details of the Prophet Noah's story which
have been given in the Qur'an above. For this see Al-Araf: 59-64
Yunus: 71,73, Hud: 25-49, Al-Mu'minun: 23-31, Ash- Shua'ra: 105-122,
Al-Ankabut: 14,15, As-Saaffat: 75-82, Al-Qamar: 9-16.
</p>

